Category: Daily Reflections

“They proclaimed the word of God.” –Acts 13:5 Because we love God’s Word, we are thrilled that “the word of the Lord continued to spread and increase” (Acts 12:24; see also Acts 6:7; 19:20). Because God’s Word is sweeter than honey (see Ps 119:103), we devour it. It becomes the joy and the happiness of our hearts (Jer 15:16). Because God’s Word is “more precious than thousands of gold and silver pieces” (Ps 119:72), we are willing to leave anything, go anywhere, and risk everything to proclaim the gospel. Because God’s Word will judge us on the last day (Jn...

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” –John 10:28 Jesus promised to give us eternal life, that is, the quality of life that is lived in heaven forever. Jesus kept His promise when He died on the cross and rose from the dead. We received His gift of eternal life when we were baptized. We live eternal life when we give our lives to Jesus and love Him with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, and all our strength (see Lk 10:27). By faith, are we living eternal life right now? If we’re not...

“My solemn word is this: I am the Sheepgate.” –John 10:7 Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11); He is also the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29) and even the Sheepgate. Don’t let anyone enter your life, family, or community except through Jesus. For example, don’t marry anyone who tries to enter your life through mere friendship or sexual attraction. Don’t let people into your life just because of business or money. TV personalities, athletes, and entertainers have a major influence in millions of people’s lives, but they probably have not entered through the Sheepgate, Jesus. “Whoever does...

“I am the Good Shepherd; the Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” –John 10:11 “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” –John 10:14 Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. To be called a sheep is not a compliment. Sheep are sheepish, that is, backward and timid. Sheep can’t even eat grass without destroying the field where the grass grows. That’s one of the reasons they need shepherds to move them elsewhere. When Jesus called us “sheep,” He implied that we weren’t just weak but helpless. Without...

“Bow humbly under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may lift you high.” –1 Peter 5:6 John Mark, later known to the world as St. Mark, learned about the power of communal prayer when he saw Peter miraculously freed from prison through the prayers of those gathered at his mother’s house (Acts 12:12ff). John Mark learned about serving the poor and building unity between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians when he accompanied Barnabas and Paul on a relief mission (Acts 12:25). John Mark learned about spiritual warfare and his own weaknesses when he quit the first missionary...